Stockton. The climbers who blockaded the Stockton Mine coal conveyor for over 60 hours have been arrested, ending a bold direct action that disrupted operations at Bathurst Resources’ controversial coal mine on the West Coast.

All climbers, part of a 70-strong protest encampment that spanned generations, from eight months old to 74 years, have been charged by police alongside five other protesters for Trespass.

“We’ll keep fighting this mine,” said climber Adam Currie. “We’ve stalled at least two days of coal extraction, sent a clear message to Bathurst and the government, and shown that people are ready to resist the Fast Track Act and the climate-wrecking projects it enables.”

The protest targeted Australian-owned Bathurst Resources' plan to mine 20 million tonnes of coal from the pristine Denniston Plateau under the government's new fast-tracked consent process. The company has a history of consent breaches in Aotearoa, and campaigners say they won’t back down.

“Support has poured in from across the motu, and local folks have backed us by bringing baking, offering places to sleep, and sharing their own frustrations with the mine. Our resolve is stronger than ever,” Currie said.

The climbers’ action prompted a response from Resources Minister Shane Jones, who attempted to justify coal expansion with misleading claims about domestic energy needs—despite the fact that the coal in question is for export. “This isn’t just about one minister,” said Currie. “His comments reflect a deeper truth: this government is doubling down on fossil fuels at the exact moment we need to be scaling up renewables.”

The encampment, which included people from Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson and beyond, has now disbanded. In total, 10 people have been charged, four of them had also been arrested.

So what’s next?

“This weekend was just the beginning,” said Alva Feldmeier. “The Fast Track is waking people up. It’s uniting communities, whānau, and climate defenders across the country. We’re building a movement that’s ready to rise up - again and again - against corporate exploitation and climate betrayal. It’s carrying on the legacy of over 150 years of māori-led land back movements here in Aotearoa.”

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